Former Team India head coach, Ravi Shastri shared a crucial piece of advice for Virat Kohli in order to get top-notch preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, which is set to get underway with the first Test in Nagpur on February 9, 2023.
Shastri suggested that Kohli should opt out of the final ODI against New Zealand and return to first-class cricket in order to prepare for the much-awaited four-match Test series against Australia, as the dashing right-hander is yet to return to his best form in red-ball cricket after failing to deliver against Bangladesh.
Ravi Shastri said on-air for Star Sports during the first ODI between India and New Zealand in Hyderabad: “I've always believed you play more first-class cricket, especially when you are going to play a lot in India. Just feel top players don't play enough first-class cricket.”
He added, “There's a lot of cricket around, you might not want to take the risk. But at times you've got to be smart and sacrifice certain games looking at the bigger picture. And the big picture is Australia.”
The former coach also cited the example of Sachin Tendulkar, who had done exactly the same 25 years ago. Shastri said, “25 years ago, Sachin Tendulkar went to play in CCI against Australian team and got a double hundred. Two months later in 1998 he had above 1000 runs against Australia in all formats.”
The commentator signed off by saying, “He got a terrific double hundred and Australia knew that they didn't get that man early the writing was on the wall.”
Notably, Kohli's domestic team Delhi is scheduled to play a Ranji Trophy 2022–23 match against Hyderabad from January 24, and he can utilise the game time to return to his best in Test cricket.
